Like most people with health coverage, John McGann didn’t worry much about the high cost of medical care. Even when the Houston music store employee came down with AIDS in December 1987, he was confident his medical bills would be paid.

Developers Portman-Barry Investments Inc. and Homart Development Co., having battled in the political arena for three years over the rights to prime North Fulton real estate, are now thrusting and parrying in court.